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Lansing Chamber of Commerce Economic Club - The future of robotics, Automation

Publish Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2020

The International Business Center is a series sponsor of these events. 

The Lansing Economic Club recently hosted its January event at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, which drew hundreds of business professionals from across Michigan and featured Jeff Burnstein as the guest speaker. A highlight video of Burnstein's speech is available online.

Burnstein is the president of the Association for Advancing Automation, the parent group of the Robotic Industries Association, AIA - Advancing Vision + Imaging, the Motion Control and Motors Association and A3 Mexico. Together, these trade groups represent over 1,250 global companies involved in robotics, vision, motion control and related automation technologies.

During his speech, Burnstein discussed the future of robotics and automation. Once an idea of the future, robotics are now vital to today's manufacturing sector. Contrary to popular belief, robotics can create jobs, not eliminate them.

“You'd expect that high wage countries would use more robots than low wage countries, especially if you believed that the reason companies adopt robots is to replace workers," said Burnstein. "The reality is that's not true. The reality is the biggest driver of automation right now is because people can't find skilled workers."

Burnstein took several questions from the audience after concluding his speech. Prior to the program, Burnstein also met with students from the Mason High School robotics program and Wilson Talent Center for a roundtable discussion to answer questions and provide insight to the robotics industry.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIoI7A8eUJk&feature=youtu.be